Drugs in Society. 2 Credit Hours

Catalog description

This course will provide an overview of the basic neuropharmacology, preclinical pharmacology, epidemiology, as well as legal and social issues associated with alcohol and the major classes of abused drugs. The course will be team taught by several faculty members from the Departments of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Psychiatry. The format will include lectures, videos, and group discussion. The major drug classes that will be discussed include the following: 1) alcohol, benzodiazepines, and barbiturates; 2) nicotine (tobacco and other delivery systems); 3) marijuana and other cannabinoids; 4) opioids; 5) stimulant drugs including cathinones; 6) ketamine and related drugs; 7) hallucinogens; and 8) dietary supplements and over the counter medications. Readings will include scientific original and review articles, selected chapters in books (e.g., Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior, McGraw-Hill), as well as blogs and recent government and news agency publications as they become available and are relevant.